Top 10 Things that Have Been Used as Money

Throughout history, people have traded with useful, beautiful, or, on some occasions, decidedly odd things.

1. Gold

   The gold standard.

2. Paper

3. Metal coins

4. Candy

   In 2008, people in Buenos Aires actually used candy in place of coins.

5. Salt

   Salt was once so rare in Europe that it was used to pay soldiers' wages. That's where we got the word salary from.

   Salt became highly valuable in the past and played a crucial role in the USA's growth!

6. Fish

   In prisons, people have actually traded fish as a form of currency.

7. Shells

   Shells were sometimes used as currency in Asia, Africa, and Europe many years ago.

8. Tea bricks

   Used in Asia, the value was determined by the quality of the local tea and the leaves used.

9. Bottle caps

   Is this a joke from Fallout? Because it's pretty funny if it is!

10. Rai stones

    Used on an island in Micronesia, these round limestone slabs had their own individual value, which was decided by the stone's history.

The Newcomers
11. ?

    Livestock

12. ?

    Cryptocurrency

The Contenders

13. Peppercorn